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Diario Euskadi

Parketarrak Program Returns to Pasaia to Promote Basque Language Use

This spring, from May 7 to June 4, sessions will be held in Pasaia's four districts, aiming to encourage family play in Basque.

Children playing in a park with an adult, with a subtle hint of traditional Basque architecture in the background.
IA

Children playing in a park with an adult, with a subtle hint of traditional Basque architecture in the background.

The Pasaia City Council is reactivating the Parketarrak program this spring, an initiative designed to foster the use of Basque within families and in children's play, running from May 7 to June 4.

This initiative, promoted by the Pasaia Basque Language Advisory Council, saw a successful debut in the spring of 2025 and a second edition in autumn, both receiving positive evaluations from the organizers. The high participation in the autumn call, with 71 parents and 190 minors, has led the council to consolidate the proposal within its linguistic promotion strategy.
The sessions will be free of charge, require no prior registration, and have no capacity limits. Educators will invite families with children aged between 3 and 5 years who are present in the park or square where the session is taking place to join the activity. Activities will be held from Monday to Thursday afternoons for four consecutive weeks across the municipality's four districts.
The gatherings will take place in Donibane's JJ. Otaegi square (at the fronton if it rains) on Mondays, in Antxo's Ibaiondo square (at Ibaiondo in bad weather) on Tuesdays, at San Pedro's fronton (under Proisa's cover if it rains) on Wednesdays, and in Trintxerpe's Gudari Plaza (under the arcades of Serafín Esnaola in bad weather) on Thursdays. Start times will be adapted to each district, beginning at 17:00 in Donibane, 17:30 in Antxo and San Pedro, and 17:15 in Trintxerpe.
The main objective of the Parketarrak program is to strengthen the family transmission of Basque by creating shared play spaces between children and their adult caregivers. The initiative is specifically aimed at minors aged 3 to 5 years, accompanied by their mothers, fathers, or guardians, who will participate together in dynamics and games organized in the municipality's parks and squares.
The activities will be facilitated by specialized educators, responsible for leading the sessions and adapting the games to the characteristics of each participating group. Although Basque will be the primary language of all sessions, organizers emphasize that knowledge of the language is not required to participate, as facilitators will ensure all families understand how the activities work.
Furthermore, the initial sessions of this edition will be integrated into the Eusfera initiative, a campaign across Euskal Herria taking place between May 7 and 17, aimed at engaging families and reinforcing the presence of Basque in the daily lives of children aged 0 to 12.

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